Nigerian women living in Kenya demonstrate to press for the release of Nigerian school girls kidnapped in northern Nigeria by members of the Boko Haram. / TONY KARUMBA, AFP/Getty Images

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - Boko Haram's kidnapping of more than 200 school girls in Nigeria may backfire against the terror group by cutting further into its dwindling public support and drawing the United States and its allies further into the fight against the militant group, analysts say.

"It's captivated social media and has brought attention to Boko Haram that is almost entirely negative," said David Shinn, a former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia and a professor at George Washington University.

The kidnapping has generated millions of tweets and a vast social media campaign that has brought world attention to the group and placed pressure on the Nigerian government to get the girls back and take action against the militant group.

The Nigeria-based group has limited most of its attacks to inside Nigeria and has killed thousands of people.

But the kidnapping of the school girls has triggered unprecedented global outrage and international pressure. The United States is supplying surveillance video from drones and the Nigerian armed forces have surged forces into northeastern Nigeria, where the group is concentrated.

The Nigerian military has deployed several battalions and about 1,000 special forces troops to the region to reinforce a division that is already based there.

Analysts and defense experts are unsure if Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, anticipated the global reaction. But analysts describe him as a ruthless figure who cares little for public opinion.

"His rationale is unknown," Shinn said.

In a video Shekau said he would sell the girls as slaves.

Shekau may have planned the operation to raise the profile of his group and burnish his credentials with global jihadist groups such as al-Qaeda.

The global outrage may not hurt the organization, since its attacks are designed to shock and intimidate and it doesn't enjoy popular support anyway.